When I reach a milestone I like to do a top ten, just for fun. Today’s milestone sees me reaching 400 posts.

Being June it seems apt to write about my favourite summer scents, although if I was guessing the month by the weather, I would probably think it was November. It’s hard to choose ten favourite summer scents. As soon as I complete the list, I think of another ten and I have to rearrange them all again as if I’m doing a seating plan at a small wedding. The other factor of course is that British weather is so very changeable. As soon as I dust off the astringent colognes, the sky goes dark and the winds go chilly so I’m dusting off the winter stuff again. Here I am talking as if I ever put any of my perfumes away ever! Of course I don’t, and it’s just as well as I’m looking out at a very gloomy damp day here in Wales.

However, I have managed to cull it down to ten, which doesn’t mean that I don’t love about fifty or so others, but you can’t go far too wrong with the following mash-up. Do let me know if you agree or if you have a favourite yourself. I love to hear from you.

1. Chanel Cristalle

To me, Chanel Cristalle is the definitive classy green scent. I’ve worn it for two decades and I never tire of it. In fact its mossy base is just as good in winter. My review is here.

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2. O de Lancome

O de Lancome fizzes like lemonade on my skin and smells like summer in a bottle. It’s all bergamot and mosses and leaves and stems and citruses. What more can we ask for in a summer perfume? Lasting power is also excellent. My review is here.

3. Un Jardin en Mediterranee

Since fig seems to flourish in the continental heat, you can’t go far wrong with Un Jardin en Mediterranee in summer. Created by Jean Claude Ellena, everything has his characteristic lightness of touch. As a result, this is thirst quenchingly good ,with a fruitiness that works well in chilled wine too. My review is here.

4. Eau D’Epices

A Tauer spice with dewdrops in it. Similar to L’Air du Desert Marocain, there is something about the Eau in Eau D’Epices that means this is never too heavy on a hot day. It lasts from dawn til dusk too. My review is here.

I’m a recent convert to Eau de Sisley 1 having reviewed just last week. Totally unisex, this is earthy and fresh at the same time. Longevity is excellent. My review is here.

7. Muelhens original 4711

When budgets forbid and profligacy is out of the question, you can never go wrong with this steadfast classic. I never tire of 4711 Original and wish more people would wear it.

8. Elizabeth Arden Green Tea

Elizabeth Arden Green Tea, and its many good flankers, are often available for under a tenner, the combination of Green Tea and Bergamot cuts through the heat. Longevity isn’t brilliant, but the price permits frequent resprays without breaking the bank.

If you had to make a cologne, you would naturally ask for some citrus fruit, maybe Grapefruit, maybe some nice Herbs, and you’d probably end up with something pretty cologne-y. Eau de Sisley 1 has done all of this, ticked all the boxes and gone a step further.

What’s the most refreshing drink you can have on a sunny day? Maybe a sparkling Gin and Tonic or an Iced Tea? Sisley has included both. Yes indeed, Eau de Sisley 1 has juniper from Gin and refreshing notes of Tea along with the requisite astringent Grapefruit giving this cologne a sparkle you will never tire of on even the most humid of days.

photo by foodcracks.com

Cutting through the heat, this is bright and sparkling from the word Go and the hints of Juniper and herbs (Thyme to be precise) make this a botanical revitalizing delight.

Even the base note stays zingy, which is no mean feat where citrus is involved. In fact, I thought the base of had a lot of Vetiver in it, but in fact I was mistaking it for a combination of Herbs and Musk.

Lasting power is also pretty good for a cologne, I would say around five hours. Cost isn’t cheap (around 62GBP for 50ml), but you wouldn’t wear this out in Winter, so it would last you around a year if you rotated it with other scents. It’s unisex so you could always buy it for Father’s Day and “borrow” it , she wrote with a sly wink. (Innovative or shameless? You decide!)

My warm gratitude goes to friend of the blog meganinstmaxime for very kindly sending me this and many other wonderful hard-to-get samples. Thank you Megan!